Spain's record World Cup 2026 triumph reshapes the soccer landscape

Spain beat Argentina 1-0 to win the 2026 World Cup, reclaiming No. 1 in FIFA rankings in a record-breaking edition; Mbappe topped the scoring with 10 goals, Haaland elevated his global profile, and Vozinha became a Cape Verde breakout story, while Ronaldo and Portugal faltered and Gianni Infantino faced mixed scrutiny as big-name coaches underperformed and Spain’s coaching philosophy shone, with Norway and Switzerland rising as the tournament highlighted a changing soccer landscape.